The Department of Psychology offers work leading to the Specialist in
School Psychology degree and the Master of Science degree in psychology
in the areas of clinical/community mental health and general experimental
psychology. The school psychology program leads to certification as a
school psychologist in the State of Illinois. Detailed descriptions of
each of the programs may be obtained from the departmental office.

The graduate programs in psychology are designed to serve: a) students
interested in becoming practitioners in the field of school psychology
or in community mental health; b) students interested in eventually pursuing
doctoral degrees at other institutions; and c) students wishing to function
as teachers, researchers, or in other related capacities in settings not
requiring the doctorate.

Admission Requirements

A minimum of 15 semester hours in psychology from an accredited institution
is the basic prerequisite for admission. Each incoming student is expected
to have successfully completed course work in each of the following three
areas: general psychology, statistics/experimental, and learning/cognitive.
In addition, students entering the clinical/community mental health program
are expected to have successfully completed courses in abnormal psychology
and personality. Persons lacking one or more of these courses will be
required either to pass proficiency examinations or to pass the appropriate
undergraduate course(s) before being admitted to candidacy for a graduate
degree in psychology. Courses taken to make up undergraduate deficiencies
cannot be applied to the credit requirements for graduate degrees.

Each applicant for admission to graduate study in psychology must submit:
official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended, three
letters of recommendation, Graduate Record Examination scores (the General
Test), and a biographical statement emphasizing academic, nonacademic,
and employment experiences relevant to the degree program selected. Applicants
should also describe how they expect their degree training to fit into
their future plans.

At the time of application, potential graduate students must indicate
whether they intend to concentrate in clinical/community mental health,
general experimental psychology, or school psychology. Admission is into
a specific degree option or program.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 32 semester hours of course work is required to complete
the master's program in general experimental psychology; a minimum of
65 semester hours is required in clinical/community mental health; a minimum
of 66 semester hours is required in the School Psychology program. Students
in clinical/community mental health are required to pass comprehensive
examinations. Students in the School Psychology program must pass all
portfolio requirements.

In addition, students in the general experimental psychology option are
required to pass an oral examination based on their thesis research.

Of the 32 semester hours, no more than six semester hours can be taken
at the 400G level. Elective course work can be taken in departments other
than psychology to allow flexibility in tailoring a program for a student.
As an example, graduate courses in management and human resource management
from the College of Business and Technology might be electives for a student
interested in industrial/organizational psychology.

Students in the school psychology program are required to successfully
complete a minimum of 66 graduate semester hours of course work and field
experiences. If a student meets all course requirements in fewer than
66 semester hours, additional graduate-level course work in related areas
(e.g., elementary education, special education, counselor education, educational
administration) must be taken to fulfill the 60 semester hour requirement.
Such additional course work must meet the approval of the student’s
academic adviser.

Courses that are also required for the school psychology program, unless
equivalent undergraduate courses have been successfully completed, are:

PSY 425G Psychology of Exceptional Children

PSY 442G Principles of Behavior Modification

PSY 451G Personality

PSY 454G Psychological Tests and Measurements

One graduate or undergraduate level course in regular or special education
methods.

Directed electives (must include one graduate-level course in foundations/supervision/administration
of regular or special education and one graduate-level course on multicultural
issues: 5-6 s.h.Total Program: 66-67 s.h.

Course Descriptions

422G Adolescent Development. (3) A study of adolescence
from the standpoint of growth and adjustment, emphasizing the areas of
physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development. Prerequisite:
PSY 221 or EIS 201, or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

423G Psychology of Adulthood and Aging. (3) A survey
of the adult years from early childhood to old age and the dying process.
Emphasis will be placed on psychological theories and research related
to aging and its implications. Prerequisites: Nine semester hours
in psychology or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

424G Abnormal Psychology. (3) A consideration of the
psychological factors in behavior disorders. The problems of recognizing,
understanding, treating, and preventing these disorders are surveyed.
Prerequisite: PSY 251, and six additional hours in psychology, or
graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

425G Psychology of Exceptional Children. (3) A psychological
approach to children with exceptional learning and behavior characteristics.
Examines assessment techniques, diagnostic categories, methods of remediation
or enhancement, and relevant federal and state legislation. Prerequisite:
PSY 221 or EIS 201, or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

430G History and Systems of Psychology. (3) A study
of the important historical and contemporary schools of psychology. The
systems are presented in an historical setting leading to an evaluation
of trends in psychology. Prerequisite: Nine semester hours in psychology
or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

433G Sex Differences in Behavior. (3) This course examines
the social and biological bases for societal-defined sex roles. The knowledge
of these factors will be applied to behaviors on which there are known
sex differences. Prerequisite: Nine semester hours of psychology,
or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

444G Biopsychology of Drugs and Addiction. (3) A systematic
study of the relationships between drugs and psychological processes (i.e.,
psychopharmacology) with emphasis on the roles of the central nervous
system, individual experience, and the environment in determining the
outcome of drug use. Prerequisites: PSY 343, or BIOL 103, or HE 123,
or HE 442, or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

451G Personality. (3) An advanced treatment of the major
research, concepts, and theoretical formations of personality, emphasizing
integration of personality concepts with concepts from other areas such
as learning and social psychology. Prerequisite: PSY 251 and six additional
hours of psychology, or graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

452G Advanced Social Psychology. (3) A systematic and
critical treatment of current topics in the field of social psychology
with emphasis on research design and problems in conducting social psychological
research. Prerequisites: PSY 323 or graduate standing, or permission
of the instructor.

453G Psychology and Law. (3) This course involves a
comprehensive study of the interface between psychology and the legal
system. Topics covered in this course include, but are not limited to:
(1) forensic issues such as competency to stand trial, the insanity defense,
and expert testimony, (2) research issues involving eyewitness memory,
testimony, and identification, and (3) procedure issues such as the child
interview and suspect interrogations. Prerequisite: 9 s.h. of psychology
course work or permission of instructor.

454G Psychological Tests and Measurements. (3) This
course relates the basic concepts of psychological measurement to commonly
used psychological tests. Relevant social and ethical issues related to
testing are discussed. Prerequisite: Nine semester hours of psychology
to include PSY 323 or equivalent, or graduate standing, or permission
of the instructor.

457G Industrial/Organizational Psychology. (3) Examines
the theory and application of psychological principles to business and
other organizational settings. Topics include employee selection and evaluation,
work motivation, work attitudes, leadership, and organizational change.
Prerequisites: Introductory psychology or HRM 353 and one course in
statistics, or with permission of the instructor.

500 Techniques in Research and Program Evaluation. (3) A
course in research methodology. Topics include evaluation of laboratory,
field, and clinical research. Each student must write a research proposal
and several critiques. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission
of the instructor.

501 Advanced Psychological Statistics. (4) A consideration
of advanced statistical methods and experimental designs that are applicable
to psychological research. Particular attention is given to correlation
and analysis of variance. Prerequisite: PSY 223, or equivalent.

520 Advanced Child Psychology. (3) A systematic presentation
of research and theories concerning the development of children. The student
will design a research project related to the study of children. Prerequisite:
An undergraduate course in development or child psychology, or permission
of the instructor.

521 Advanced Cognitive Processes. (3) Perception, attention,
memory, language, proglem solving, decision-making, and intelligence will
be covered with an emphasis on the integration of these systems in a conceptual
model to facilitate professional applicaiton of knowledge and theory in
cognitive psychology. Prerequisite: Undergraduate course work in cognitive
psychology or permission of instructor.

523 Psychology of Aging. (3) An examination of the phenomenon
of aging and how it relates to the motivations, satisfactions, needs,
and perceptions of people in their advanced years. Prerequisites:
Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

550 Current Research in Psychology Seminar. (1, repeatable in
consecutive semesters to 2) A survey of contemporary theoretical
and methodological issues associated with areas of inquiry traditionally
covered under general experimental psychology, including biopsychology,
cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational, learning, perception/sensation,
personality, and social psychology. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

560 Individual Research in Psychology. (1—2, repeatable
to 4) The student will design, carry out, and write up an original
experiment. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Psychology 500 and permission
of the instructor.

563 Individual Readings in Psychology. (1—2, repeatable
to 4) The student will read extensively on topics chosen in consultation
with a psychology instructor and prepare a written report on the topic(s).
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and permission of the instructor.

570 Systems of Psychotherapy. (3) This course is intended
to review various systems of psychotherapy and to introduce the student
to professional considerations in the practice of psychotherapy. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

571 Group Processes and Group Psychotherapy. (3) An
examination of theories of group and family psychotherapy emphasizing
how basic group processes such as cohesiveness, norm formation, communication
skills, and leadership are used in therapeutic groups. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

572 Clinical Classification and Decision Processes. (3)
Examination of the practice of psychological diagnoses with emphasis upon
informational bases and decision-making processes involved in and theoretical
assumptions underlying these practices. Prerequisite: Graduate standing;
PSY 424 and 570, or permission of the instructor.

573 Crisis Intervention and Community Mental Health. (3)
An introduction to the principles of community mental health emphasizing
organization of community mental health services, mental health education,
consultation, program evaluation, and crisis intervention. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

574 Professional Issues in Clinical/Community Mental Health.
(3) An in-depth examination of the ethical, legal, and professional
issues involved in the provision of mental health services primarily in
public settings. Illinois laws governing confidentiality, mandated reporting,
and professional licensure will be discussed. Prerequisite: Graduate
standing and permission of the instructor.

575 Diversity Issues and Psychological Services. (1)
Students will become acquainted with differences among groups who vary
along the dimensions of ethnicity, gender, social class, sexual orientation,
age, religious affiliation, and disability. Similarities among members
of groups that occupy different positions along these dimensions will
also be considered, as well as diversity within groups. These differences
among and within groups, and similarities among people regardless of group
membership, will be related to relevant issues relating to the provision
of psychological services. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

577 Pre-Practicum in Clinical/Community Mental Health. (1)
A practical introduction to the assessment and treatment of psychological
disorders. Students will observe case presentations and selected treatment
sessions as a way of developing familiarity with the procedures used in
the delivery of mental health services. Graded S/U. Prerequisites:
Enrollment limited to students in the school psychology or clinical/community
mental health program.

581 Individual Psychological Evaluation: Intellectual Assessment.
(3) Examines the administration, uses and interpretations of
measures of ability and achievement, emphasizing cultural sensitivity
in the application of these instruments. Includes supervised practice
in the use of the Stanford Binet and Wechsler Scales. Enrollment limited
to students in school psychology or clinical/community mental health program
or permission of the instructor.

582 Clinical Assessment I. (2) Examines the administration,
uses of, and interpretation of measures of intellectual and neuropsychological
functioning. Students will receive supervised instruction in the use of
standardized tests of intelligence and neuropsychological screening devices,
with special attention devoted to cultural and demographic issues that
bear on the use of these measures. Prerequisites: Enrollment is limited
to students in the clinical/community mental health program or those with
permission of the instructor.

583 Clinical Assessment II. (3) A review of contemporary
objective and projective measures of personality. Emphasis is on development
of applied skills in assembling a test battery, administrating and interpreting
test results, and integrative report writing. Prerequisites: Enrollment
is limited to students in the clinical/community mental health program
who have successfully completed PSY 582 or those with permission of the
instructor.

585 Psychological Problems of the Child. (3) Intensive
study of the causes, evaluation, and treatment of social, emotional, and
behavioral problems of children. Prerequisite: PSY 581, or permission
of the instructor.

586 Practicum in School Psychology. (1—2, repeatable to
7) Supervised experience in diagnosis of and consultation for
the psychological problems of children in either the local school system
or the University Psychology Clinic. Prerequisites: Graduate standing,
and permission of the instructor.

587 Practicum: Basic Interviewing Skills. (3) Classroom
and supervised clinical experience in the conduct of clinical interviews
with an emphasis upon communication skills and the development of the
therapeutic relationship. Clinical work is done in the University Psychology
Clinic. Prerequisites: PSY 577. Enrollment limited to students in
the school psychology or clinical/community mental health program.

588 Practicum: Interpersonal Processes in Therapy. (3)
Provides a review of theory and research on, and supervised experience
in, contemporary interpersonal processes as they relate to the client-therapist
relationship. Attending to overt and covert communication styles, using
the client-therapist interpersonal relationship diagnostically and as
a means for intervention, and integrating the interpersonal approach with
other theoretical orientations in working with clients of the University
Psychology Clinic will be emphasized. Consultation with and referral to
other agencies may be included. Prerequisites: Enrollment is limited
to students in the Clinical/ Community Mental Health Option who have successfully
completed PSY 577 and PSY 587.

589 Practicum: Differential Treatment Selection. (3)
Provides a review of current research on and supervised experience in
selecting and conducting disorder-appropriate treatments for children,
adolescents, and adults in the University Psychology Clinic. Consultation
with and referral to other agencies may be included. Prerequisites:
Enrollment is limited to students in the clinical/community mental health
program who have successfully completed PSY 577, PSY 587, and PSY 588.

590 Introduction to School Psychology. (3) A survey
of historical and current topics, issues, and professional problems in
school psychology emphasizing the school psychologist's role and function,
problems of professional practice, and legal and ethical considerations.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

591 Behavioral Consultation. (1) Students will be exposed
to various consultation theories used in educational settings to facilitate
problem solving. Specific techniques used in behavioral consultation will
be taught and practiced. Prerequisites: 3 s.h. of PSY 586 or permission
of instructor.

593 Intervention with Children and Adolescents. (3) Students
will learn to plan, implement, and evaluate interventions appropriate
for children and adolescents exhibiting a variety of behavioral, cognitive,
educational, medical, and emotional difficulties. Prerequisite: 3
s.h. of PSY 586 or permission of instructor.

595 Career Assessment in Professional Psychology. (1)
Students will become familiar with the process of assessing clients’
vocational and professional interests through the use of both formal assessment
instruments and interview. Developmental considerations, as well as issues
of cultural sensitivity and gender will be discussed. Approaches to integrating
this information into career advising and/or psychotherapy will be explored.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.

596 Approaches to Substance Abuse Diagnosis and Treatment. (1)
Students will become aware of the multiple theoretical viewpoints available
to understand the human substance abuse, as well as the variety of treatment
approaches available for addressing these difficulties. Emphases will
be placed upon maintaining appropriate scientific skepticism regarding
current cultural and professional viewpoints, as well as appreciating
the importance of understanding the challenges inherent in the dually
diagnosed. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of the instructor.

599 School Psychology Portfolio. (0) Students in the
School Psychology Program are required to compile professional portfolios
in which they must integrate information from all of their coursework
and practica, and address the ways in which each course relates to their
own professional development. Prerequisite: Completion of at least
3 semester hours of PSY 586.

600 Seminar. (1—3, repeatable to 12)

601 Thesis. (3) Graded S/U.

602 Professional Experience. (1—3, repeatable to 5)
Practicum work at an advanced level in a setting appropriate to the student's
professional goals, i.e., a school system, community mental health center,
etc. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and permission of
the instructor.

603 School Psychology Internship. (6, repeatable to 12)
A one-year full-time supervised professional psychological experience
with children of school age in a public school setting under supervision
of an individual qualified as a supervising psychologist. Graded S/U.
Prerequisite: Open only to those students endorsed for intern approval
by WIU School Psychology Program Director. Students enroll during each
semester of their internship experience.

604 Internship in Clinical/Community Mental Health. (4, repeatable
to 12) A full-time placement in an approved mental health facility
providing advanced graduate students in clinical/community mental health
with supervised experience in diagnosis, treatment, community education
and program planning, and/or evaluation. Graded S/U. Incompletes will
be given until the internship is completed. Prerequisite: Open only
to those students endorsed for internship by the WIU Clinical/Community
Health Program Director. Students enroll during each semester of their
internship experience.

605 Comprehensive Examination in Clinical/Community Mental Health.
(0) Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the clinical/community
mental health program and satisfactory completion of 52 semester hours
of required course work in this option.